Container for fluids with reserve space



Jan. 26, 1965 H. K. BROSS 3,167,056

cmmmsa FOR FLUIDS um RESERVE SPACE Filed April 17, 1962 FIG. 5

HELMUT KARL GROSS ENVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,167,056 CONTAINER FQR FLUIDS WITH RESERVE SPACE Helmut Karl Brass, 40 Weichselgartenstn, Altenberg uber Nurnberg, Germany, assignor of fifty percent to Frank T. Johmann, Berkeley Heights, NJ.

Filed Apr. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 183,135 Claims. (Ci. TER -42.16)

This invention relates to containers for fluids defining a fluid reservoir and a reserve fluid reservoir. Particularly, the invention relates to ink cartridges for cartridge type fountain pens.

It is known to provide cartridge fountain pens with an ink reserve space. However, the construction and operation of the prior art pens having an ink reserve are relatively complicated. A particularly serious disadvantage of these pens is that the ink reserve requires a change in the construction of the pen itself.

The present invention provides an ink reserve without these disadvantages. According to this invention, the problem of an ink reserve is solved in a most simple and practical manner. In general, I provide an ink cartridge comprising one or more elongated elements which define a space for holding back reserve ink. Preferably said elements are elastic so that pressure exerted on the exterior wall of the cartridge will squeeze ink from the reserve space or spaces, into the main ink reservoir space of the cartridge.

The elongated element may consist of a thin material, which is preferably identical with the material of the cartridge walls. In order to facilitate the transverse compressibility of the cartridge, elements having a zig-zag shape can be used. The ink reserve space may be defined by the exterior wall of the cartridge and one elongated element in the form of an interior wall running in a direction parallel to the exterior wall or to the axis of the cartridge. Alternatively, sever-a1 interior walls may be provided, which are either parallel to each other or have a star-like configuration or cross-section.

The elongated elements serving to reduce the interior width of the cartridge in accordance with the invention may also take the form of a tubular, preferably radially elastic, member secured to an end wall of the cartridge, or of a centrally disposed rigid shaft member projecting from the middle of the rear Wall of the cartridge. Still other forms are possible as will later become apparent.

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing, illustrating specific embodiments of the novel cartridge, including a preferred embodiment.

FIGURE 1 is an axial view, partly in cross-section, of a fountain pen having an ink cartridge of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an axial view, partly in cross-section, of another ink cartridge of the invention.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 4A is a cross-sectional view of a modification of the ink cartridge of FIGURES 3 and 4.

FIGURE 5 is an axial view, partly in cross-section, of another ink cartridge of the invention.

FIGURE 6 is an axial view, partly in cross-section, of still another ink cartridge of the invention.

FIGURE 7 is an axial view, partly in cross-section of still another ink cartridge of the invention, wherein the ink cartridge is shown in relation to an ink feeder prong of a fountain pen.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2, I show a typical ink cartridge fountain pen including writing point 10, ink feeder 11, the front barrel portion 12 carrying a tubular, pointed ink feeder prong 13 in ink-communication with said feeder 11 and point 10, and the rear barrel "ice portion 14 indicated by broken lines. The ink cartridge C of the invention includes the outer tubular wall 15, which is closed by rear wall 16. An elongated interior wall 17, having a zig-zag cross-section (see FIGURE 2), extends from rear wall 16 to a point more than halfway between rear wall 15 and front wall 18. The interior wall 1'7, together with the outer wall 15, thereby forms or defines the reserve ink space 19, while the main ink space or reservoir portion is indicated at 20. Walls 15, 16, and 17 are integral with one another and are made of a squeezable resilient plastic, e.g. polyethylene or polypropylene. A plug 21, may be provided to restrict or seal the opening where reservoir space 19 communicates with reservoir space 20. Said plug 21 can be solid and rigid, e.g. rigid plastic, or it can be porous, e.g. cloth or fabric.

When the main ink reservoir 2% runs dry of ink during use, the user unscrews the rear barrel portion 14 from the front barrel portion 12 to thereby expose the ink cartridge C. The user can then squeeze the rear half of the cartridge C to thereby deform the cartridge wall 15 to exert pressure on the reserve ink still contained in reservoir space 19. This will displace plug 21 and allow the reserve ink to flow into the main reservoir portion 20, from where it can flow to writing point 10 through feeder prong 13. Thus, the user is given a period of grace in which to replace the used cartridge after his first Warning that he is running low on ink.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 3 and 4, the rear portion of cartridge Ca contains a plurality of parallel interior walls 22, axially extending from rear end wall 16a. Said walls 22 can also consist of the elastic material of the cartridge body 15a, and preferably also have zig-z-ag cross-sections. The spaces between adjacent walls 22, and between walls 22 and wall 15a, define the reserve ink reservoir 19a. In FIGURE 3, it is noted that the front wall 18a of the cartridge as originally made, defines a blind tubular bore 23, which in turn defines the thin wall portion 18a. The thin wall portion 18a, is of course subsequently pierced or punctured by the pointed or beveled end of an ink feeder prong (e.g. prong 13) when inserted in a fountain pen. By having the walls 22 close together, they can define capillary spaces 19a for the retention of the reserve ink, so that no plug or seal is needed to maintain the reserve ink in reserve spaces 19a. Yet, when walls 22 are deformed by squeezing or bending the cartridge C, the reserve ink is readily forced into the main reservoir portion 20a.

FIGURE 4a represents a cross-section of a modification of the embodiment of FIGURES 3 and 4. This modification shows walls 22 radially extending from a common center 24 in a star-like cross-section, to define ink reserve spaces 19a.

FIGURE 5 illustrates a tubular, radially elastic member 25 projecting into the interior of the cartridge from rear wall 26 and concentric with outer Wall 1511 to thereby define the annular ink reserve space 1%.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 6, a central stem member or shaft 27 projects inwardly into the cartridge interior from the cylindrical rear closure element 28 fixed in closing relation to tubular wall 150. 19c defines the annular ink reserve space.

FIGURE 7 represents another modification of my invent-ion. Here, the tube 29 is integral with the tubular front closing wall 3%. Tube 29 together with outer cartridge wall defines the annular ink reserve space 19d. The ink feeder prong 1.3 is, of course, separate from the cartridge and is only shown to illustrate the position of the reserve space 19d relative to said prong.

In summary, the present invention provides a simple ink cartridge, where an ink reserve is formed directly in the cartridge. This reserve can be defined by capillary spaces,

where the walls defining the reserve space are positioned so close to each other that the liquid ink will adhere to said walls by capillary action to thereby resist the force of gravity. Or, if the walls defining the reserve space are sufiiciently far apart so as not to obtain said capillary action, then a plug can be used to seal off the ink until later displaced by manipulating or squeezing the cartridge. Or, a fibrous or porous plug, e.g. cloth, can be sed to retain the ink in the reserve space, until the ink is subsequently squeezed through or past said plug.

The walls forming the reserve space can be readily molded as part of the cartridge so that no subsequent assembly is needed. For example, in FEGURE 7, the tubular wall 29 is molded of plastic integral with front wall 30. The main cartridge body 15d, having end wall 16d is molded as a separate piece. The main body is filled with ink and the front Wall assembly snapped into place so that the annular rims 0r flanges of the cartridge well 1541 snap into complementary annular grooves 32. The cartridge is then ready for use.

While the preceding description and drawings have been primarily directed to inks and fountain pens, my invention is applicable to other similar uses such as fountain brushes, coloring fluids, adhesive applicators, etc. In sum, the present invention is applicable where ever fluids a.e us from cartridges together with a dispenser for said flui I claim:

'1. Liquid ink cartridge for fountain pens, having an ink reserve space and comprising: a resilient deformable tubular main body having a definite shape defining a longitudinal axis and a main ink reservoir and 11 'ng a front closing end wall adapted for piercing by the feeder prong of a cartridge fountain pen and a rear closing end wall; and an inner wall integral with one of said end walls, said inner wall longitudinally projecting partly into said tubular main body to thereby define a capillary reserve ink reservoir between said tubular main body and said inner wall such that upon emptying said main ink reservoir by writing, reserve ink is still held in said reserve ink reservoir by capillary attraction, said reserve ink reservoir opening directly into said main ink reservoir whereby said reservoi-rs are always in direct communication with each other whereby reserve ink can be squeezed out of said reserve ink reservoir into said main ink reservoir 'by squeezing said tubular main body proximate said reserve ink reserh voir to thereby reduce the space defining said reserve ink reservoir.

2. A liquid ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said inner wall is integral with said rear closing Wall.

3. Ink cartridge for fountain pens having a liquid ink reserve reservoir and a main liquid ink reservoir comprising: a resilient deformable tubular body having a front closing wall adapted for piercing by the feeder prong of a cartridge fountain pen and a rear closing wall; a series of inner walls integral with said rear closing wall and extending forwardly from said rear closing walls in spaced and parallel relation to each other to a point between said closing walls to thereby define (1) a main ink reservoir between said front closing wall and said point, and (2) a reserve ink reservoir between said point and said rear closing wall; said inner walls defining a plurality of capillary spaces which define said reserve ink reservoir and W it normally hold ink by capillary attraction of said to said inner walls after said main reservoir has been emptied of ink by writing, said capillary spaces opening direchy into said main ink reservoir whereupon ink can be squeezed out of said capillary spaces into said main ink reservoir by squeezing said tubular body proximate said inner walls to thereby reduce the volume of said capillary spaces,

4. lnk cartridge according to claim 3, wherein each of said inner walls has a zig-zag cross-section, said ink rcservc reservoir being defined by said inner walls and said tubular body.

5. ink cartridge according to claim 3, wherein said inner Walls radiate transversely from a common center to'junction with said tubular body, and wherein said inner Walls are integral with each other at said common center, and are also integral with said tubular body.

iteierences Cited in the file of this patent 

1. LIQUID INK CARTRIDE FOR FOUNTAIN PENS, HAVING AN INK RESERVE SPACE AND COMPRISING: A RESILIENT DEFORMABLE TUBULAR MAIN BODY HAVING A DEFINITE SHAPE DEFINING A LONGITUDINAL AXIS AND A MAIN INK RESERVOIR AND HAVING A FRONT CLOSING END WALL ADAPTED FOR PIERCING BY THE FEEDER PRONG OF A CARTRIDGE FOUNTAIN PEN AND A REAR CLOSING END WALL; AND AN INNER WALL INTEGRAL WITH ONE OF SAID END WALLS, SAID INNER WALL LONGITUDINALLY PROJECTING PARTLY INTO SAID TUBULAR MAIN BODY TO THEREBY DEFINE A CAPILLARY RESERVE INK RESERVOIR BETWEEN SAID TUBULAR MAIN BODY AND SAID INNER WALL SUCH THAT UPON EMPTYING SAID MAIN INK RESERVOIR BY WRITING, RESERVE INK IS STILL HELD IN SAID RESERVE INK RESERVOIR BY CAPILLARY ATTRACTION, SAID RESERVE INK RESERVOIR OPENING DIRECTLY INTO SAID INK RESERVOIR WHEREBY SAID RESERVOIRS ARE ALWAYS IN DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH EACH OTHER WHEREBY RESERVE INK CAN BE SQUEEZED OUT OF SAID RESERVE INK RESERVOIR INTO SAID MAIN INK RESERVOIR BY SQUEEZING SAID TUBULAR MAIN BODY PROXIMATE SAID RESERVE INK RESERVOIR TO THEREBY REDUCE THE SPACE DEFINING SAID RESERVE INK RESERVOIR. 